A fighting 71 takes Sharma to tied 17th in Turkey

Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma battled his way to a one-under 71 to lie tied 17th after a roller coaster third round at the Turkish Airlines Open here on Saturday.

After dropping five in three in the third round, Sharma waged a hard battle with five birdies in six holes to reach 10-under.

The 23-year-old Indian first moved backwards at one stage after seven he was down in the 40s - and then clawed his way back on a day when the pin positions were really tough.

Sharma needs more gains on Sunday to get a spot in next week's Nedbank Challenge.

Sharma's recovery came in the stretch from eighth to 13th during which he made five birdies. He forced his way into red numbers at one-under but still dropped from overnight T-11 to Tied-17th.

Overall he had seven birdies, two doubles and two bogeys.

Englishman Matthias Schwab landed an eagle for the third day in a row and had six other birdies.

He could even afford a double bogey on par-4 12th and still open up a three-shot lead over a bunch of five players led by Benjamin Hebert (64), Tyrell Hatton (65), Patrick Reed (65), Robert MacIntyre (67) and Ross Fisher (68).

Justin Rose's chance of a three-in-a-row took a big hit, as he bogeyed the fourth and double bogeyed the ninth and had just two birdies in his 73 to slid to Tied-25 at nine-under.

Looking drained, but happy, Sharma said, "I am proud of the way I fought back on the first day and then again today."
"I had to dig deep and I am happy I managed as I was on a roll with five birdies in six, including four in a row on back nine. I hit a lot of good shots. When I got to 10-under after 13, I was fishing for 12-under by the end. But the birdies dried up and then I missed a tough two-putt on 16th. I got back a birdie on 17thwith a good second shot after it hit the cart path. The birdie putt stopped short on 18th."
As for the round itself, Sharma said, "I went through a whole range of emotions. I know I am making a lot of birdies, I did that in Italy, in France and in Portugal. It's just that I need to cut down on the leakage and it will be fine. One more round and I could still find something."